Photo courtesy of John, Flickr
Twenty-year-old Bea Kristi, more widely known as Beabadoobee, released her album, “Fake It Flowers,” on Oct. 16. Taking inspiration from 90’s alternative rock, the album features indie-rock influences with a unique spin that feels nostalgic and relatable.
As a young singer-songwriter, Kristi’s album feels as if it were made for college-aged students, playing on the fears and struggles that come with transitioning into adulthood. The album explores topics such as love and romance, mental health and fears for the future through angsty pop-rock tunes that stick in your head for hours.
The album begins with the leading track, “Care,” a song about opening up from past hurt and seeking help. Although the song at first appears upbeat, with a repetitive pop-rock melody that feels as if it were taken straight from the 90s, the lyrics illustrate how difficult it can be to open up about mental health and feeling exhausted from surface-level sympathy.
Kristi sings, “I don’t want your sympathy / Stop saying you give a shit / ‘Cause you don’t really / Care.” Kristi expresses her frustrations, as she feels alone in her mental health journey, and in the song, she refuses any sympathy or insincere gestures that make it more difficult to communicate her internal struggles. The song feels raw and personal, but it’s repetitive chorus and angsty lyrics feel reminiscent of an easily digestible 90s alternative radio banger.
“Worth It,” the second track on the album, comments on the uncertainty of a first relationship and the disconnect between two partners. The song presents a feeling of immaturity in the relationship as Kristi sings, “Don’t think we can be friends / ‘Cause you’re too pretty / I wanna see you again / I don’t know what I’m saying.” The lyrics depict Kristi’s insecurity in herself and her relationship, and this insecurity represents the same confusion so many young people feel with their first loves.
Kristi doesn’t know what she wants or how to express her feelings, and this uncertainty creates a rift in the relationship, as Kristi sings, “You seem to be breaking up / Connection too slow / So just try texting again / Don’t pick up the phone.”
“Worth It” feels much more like a pop-rock song one would hear playing on a top hits radio station while still taking influence from alternative beats. The song’s introduction starts strong, with a steady guitar and drum beat that, again, sounds like a familiar alternative rock tune, before it fades into the first verse with a strong indie-pop influence. The song is a perfect representation of the rest of Beabadoobee’s album, as it blurs the line between alternative rock bangers and indie-pop hits, with catchy choruses and a consistent alternative sound.
Beabadoobee’s “Fake It Flowers” feels like an ode to the teenage and college-age experience. It shines a light on the transition from the teenage years to adulthood and all of the fear and apprehension that comes with it. The album features a mix of gentle, indie melodies and harsh rock beats that capture the ups and downs of young adulthood.
3/5 stars
mfink1@ramapo.edu
